ADDITION OF PULP MILL ASH RAISES PH,MODIFIES PHYSICAL PROPERTIES,AND ALTERS YOUNG TOMATO PLANT GROWTH AND MINERAL NUTRITION IN A PEAT-BASED SUBSTRATE

Pulp and paper mills often burn wood waste to fuel their boilers. The ash from a Mississippi pulp mill boiler was evaluated for potential use as an amendment to peat moss-based greenhouse substrates for production of young tomato plants. Between 0 and 50% ash was added to a custom-blended peat moss-based substrate, and these were compared to a commercially available substrate without ash. Addition of ash increased substrate pH, conductivity (EC), bulk density and water holding capacity, while reducing airspace and average particle size. In general, tomato plants grown in 0–40% ash had similar growth indexes as plants grown in commercial substrate. Increasing amounts of ash decreased tomato shoot nitrogen (N), potassium (K), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) concentration, and increased concentrations of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), and boron (B). These results indicate that pulp mill ash has the potential to be used as a substrate component for greenhouse container production of tomato.     

Responses of Spring Wheat Cultivars to Nutrient Solutions Containing Additional Potassium Chloride

Hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars each respond differently to chloride fertilizer under field conditions. The objective of this research was to investigate cultivar-specific chloride responses under controlled environments. Plants were grown in sand culture ± additional chloride (±20 mM KCl) nutrient solutions for four weeks. Of cultivars given additional chloride, ‘Butte,’ ‘Sharp,’ ‘Ingot,’ ‘Oxen,’ ‘Forge,’ and ‘Ember’ had significantly greater shoot chloride uptake than ‘Marshall.’ In soil-grown plants given 0, 20, 80, or 160 mM KCl from planting to heading, seed number remained constant, while individual seed weight and total yield decreased at higher KCl treatment levels in ‘Butte.’ Individual seed weight remained constant, while seed number and total yield increased in ‘Marshall.’ It was concluded that chloride fertilizer response in ‘Marshall’ under field conditions may have been mediated by reduced chloride uptake, which in turn resulted in decreased chloride toxicity at higher-chloride soil fertility levels.     

Characterization of β-haemolytic Group B Streptococcus agalactiae in cultured seabream, Sparus auratus L., and wild mullet, Liza klunzingeri (Day), in Kuwait

Streptococcus agalactiae was isolated from cultured gilthead seabream, Sparus auratus L., and diseased wild Klunzinger's mullet, Liza klunzingeri (Day), in Kuwait Bay, Arabian Gulf. Isolates were catalase negative, β‐haemolytic, Gram‐positive cocci and serogroup B. Experimental infectivity trials with mullet and seabream brain isolates in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L., caused 100 and 90% mortality, respectively, within 7 days post‐inoculation indicating virulent S. agalactiae as the bacterial pathogen responsible for the epizootic in Kuwait Bay.     

Growth and Infestation by Hemlock Woolly Adelgid of Two Exotic Hemlock Species in a New England Forest

ABSTRACT

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA, Adelges tsugae Annand) an invasive exotic insect, may extirpate eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière) trees from native forests, but other hemlock species could be planted to occupy their ecological niche. This study tests two of the most likely replacement species candidates: western hemlock (T. heterophylla (Raf.) Sargent) and Chinese hemlock (T. chinensis (Franchet) Pritzel). Low survival rates, slow growth, and infestation by HWA of western hemlock in eastern hemlock forests shows that the western hemlock is not a likely candidate for planting in the northern portion of eastern hemlock's range. In contrast, Chinese hemlock grew at rates similar to eastern hemlock and did not show any signs of HWA infestation. In this study, damage from deer was a much bigger problem than growth reductions from HWA.     

Wintering seaducks in Britian and Ireland: Populations,threats, conservation and research priorities

• 1. This paper provides a detailed review of the status and distribution of wintering seaducks (Scaup, Eider, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser) in Britain and Ireland. It is based on a literature review plus analysis of National Waterfowl Counts (NWC) and other data. A summary of current knowledge of wintering seaducks is provided together with information on threats to populations, conservation goals and research needs.
• 2. Each species is examined in turn, with the emphasis on aspects of the population, habitat use, current distribution, trends and history. Important areas for individual species are highlighted.
• 3. Overall, seaduck populations have changed considerably, those for Eider and Red-breasted Merganser having expanded greatly, whilst those for Scaup, Common and Velvet Scoter have declined during historical and/or recent times. The trend for Long-tailed Ducks is unclear. British population estimates are considered to be out of date and need to be revised. The premier areas for seaduck communities are highlighted, thus providing basic information for conservation action and future monitoring.
• 4. Seaduck populations are threatened in a number of ways and the main factors are discussed. Oil pollution and the actions of commercial fisheries are the most important current threats. Conservation goals are suggested. These include an urgent need to develop appropriate domestic legislation to facilitate the protection of seaduck populations. Such legislation is currently almost entirely lacking.
• 5. Some priorities for research, particularly for better population monitoring of seaducks in British and Irish waters, are provided. These include: alterations to the NWC scheme to allow the collation of opportunistic counts, made when the conditions are amenable for censusing seaducks; extension of the scheme into areas not currently surveyed (e.g. most parts of Ireland); and the establishment of intensive survey programmes to monitor seaducks in the key areas of Britain and Ireland. It is hoped that this paper will serve to stimulate interest and commitment from all who play a part in safeguarding our seaduck heritage.

     

Decomposition and nutrient mineralisation of leaf litter in smallholder cocoa agroforests: a comparison of organic and conventional farms in Ghana

Purpose

Although litter decomposition and nutrient release patterns have been studied in cocoa agroforestry systems in general, studies focusing on organic and conventional cocoa systems are lacking which is critical as organic farms are particularly dependent on nutrient returns from decomposing litter.

Materials and methods

Dynamics in leaf litter decomposition and the mineralisation of macro- and micro-nutrients in organic and conventional cocoa agroforestry systems were studied using the litterbag technique for 12 months.

Results

The average monthly mass loss was more than two times higher on organic farms (9.2–14.4 g month^?1) compared to conventional farms (4.2–7.3 g month^?1) in the first five months. The annual rate of decomposition (k) was higher on organic farms (1.9) compared to conventional systems (1.4). The time required for 50% (t₅₀) and 99% (t₉₉) decomposition of leaf litter was both lower on organic farms (t₅₀?=?0.4 years, t₉₉?=?2.6 years) than conventional farms (t₅₀?=?0.5 years, t₉₉?=?3.5 years). The estimated k values for macro- and micro-nutrients on organic cocoa systems ranged from 2.3 for calcium to 4.5 for potassium compared to 1.6 (Ca) to 2.8 (K) on conventional farms. The k values of all nutrients (except nitrogen and phosphorus) were significantly greater on organic farms than conventional systems. The estimated k values for both litter decomposition and nutrient mineralisation correlated with soil pH and moisture content, but not initial litter chemistry.

Conclusions

Organic management of smallholder cocoa agroforestry systems enhanced leaf litter decomposition and nutrient mineralisation through improved soil conditions. Thus, organic management of cocoa agroforestry systems may contribute to sustainable cocoa production in smallholder systems through enhanced nutrient return from litter decomposition.